January 15, 1999
Web posted at: 8:28 p.m. EST (0128 GMT)

WASHINGTON (January 15) -- President Bill Clinton is planning to deliver a one-hour State of the Union address Tuesday night that will include, according to his aides, "an ambitious agenda that can make a difference in people's lives." The aides say the speech will be in line with what a president would say "in his first year in office, rather than in his seventh."

House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) sent a letter to his colleagues in the House of Representatives Friday telling them the president's address would proceed as scheduled and that despite the ongoing Senate impeachment trial Clinton's remarks should be received "soberly and with the dignity that befits the United States Congress."

Some lawmakers have urged the president to delay the annual address or submit in written form because of the trial.

But Clinton wanted to send the message to the American public that he is still focused on their business. Three senior White House officials who asked not to be identified by name previewed the speech this morning. They say the president's overall theme will be: "Good times are a reason to do more, not coast."

They say it's unlikely, as of now, that the president will make any direct reference to the Senate impeachment trial, but they caution that could change.

They predict that the president will receive "basically a positive response" from the members of the House and Senate. "We all have an interest in putting our best foot forward," says one of the officials. "America will be tuning in."

"The last Congress paid a price for not doing more and we ought to learn a lesson from that," says one of the officials.

They say Clinton will focus on substantive domestic and international issues.

Clinton, according to these officials, will discuss what he sees as five major challenges facing the country:

1. Demographics. Americans are getting older, creating what the president will call "a high class problem" for the country. He will focus on his recently announced proposal to provide tax credits for long-term care of the elderly. There will be a section in the speech devoted to Social Security; another to Medicare. Clinton will restate what he said in his speech last year: Not one penny of the budget surplus should be spent until Social Security is saved.

2. Education. Clinton will speak of his new initiatives to promote childhood education as well as new programs "over a lifetime" for adults. The president will make a "strong" case for "more accountability in the schools" and more opportunity.

3. Families. The president will stress the need for strengthening families and communities. Clinton will talk about his proposed 55-cent increase in the tobacco tax. The revenue would be dedicated to reimbursing federal government agencies for their increased health care expenses from tobacco illnesses. In addition, he will focus attention on expanding family leave programs. He will again call for passage of a Patients' Bill of Rights. He will also have a section of the speech on fighting crime.

4. Global economy. Clinton will make the connection between economic events around the world and the U.S. economy.

5. National security. He will focus on global challenges. He will cite the NATO summit in Washington April 24-25 and the expansion of the alliance to include three new countries: Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic; the American role as peacemaker, citing the Middle East, Bosnia and Africa; and the strengthened commitment to defense readiness, including increased budget proposals for the Pentagon.

One official says the president will underline a "commitment to values, opportunities and responsibility, to build a stronger community;" to an "active, progressive government with fiscal responsibility;" to America "as a world leader," and to "One America," that can heal racial, ethnic and other divisions.

He will also call for campaign finance reform.

The officials would not say who would join the first lady in the gallery.

In his letter to House members, Hastert also reminded the representatives that there are other issues going on in the nation besides impeachment. "We will proceed with the President's State of the Union address as ordained by the constitution. We will do so out of respect for the office of the presidency and for a desire to hear about the state of our nation."

"The United States of America is prosperous and free. But storm clouds gather on our horizon. Our national security is challenged by the continued malfeasance of Saddam Hussein. Our economic security is challenged by a growing worldwide recession. Our future is bedeviled by too many schools that perform poorly and by a Social Security system in need of reform. The President has the responsibility to tell us his thoughts on how to confront these growing problems," Hastert continued.

Hastert also advised his members: "Out of respect for the Office of the Presidency and for the state of our nation, we will listen to the President's remarks soberly and with the dignity that befits the United States Congress."

CNN's Wolf Blitzer contributed to this report.

Friday January 15, 1999

• Managers say evidence, law prove perjury, obstruction of justice
• No decision yet on Clinton as witness
• Prosecution has swayed some senators on witness question
• First family's private lawyers question Linda Tripp under oath
• Senator objects to 'juror' label
• Clinton planning to deliver a one-hour State of the Union address
• Reno: No wrongdoing by former top Gore aide
• Hustler's Flynt hospitalized with pneumonia
• Man who shot Reagan wins mental hospital release
• Roth proposes new type of 401(k), alternatives to Social Security
• Clinton Administration considers sale of Ginnie Mae
• Clinton plans cigarette tax hike to balance budget
• Clinton urges Wall Street to invest in distressed areas

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